/I 



SD 143 
.P5 
1917 
Copy 1 



U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY. 

L. O. HOWARD, 

Entomologist and Chief of Bureau. 



SOME TIMELY SUGGESTIONS FOR THE OWNERS OF 
WOODLOTS IN NEW ENGLAND. 



BY 



F. H. MOSHER, Entomological Assistant, 



AND 



G. E. CLEMENT, Assistant in Forest Management, Gipsy Moth and 

Browji-tail Moth Investigations. 



WASHINGTON : GOVERNMENT FEINTING OFFICE : 1917 



D. Of D. 
JUN 12 1917 






Issued , 1917. 

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY. 
L. O. Howard, Entomologist and Chief of Bureau. 



SOME TIMELY SUGGESTIONS FOR THE OWNERS OF WOODLOTS IN 

NEW ENGLAND. 

By F. H. MosHER, Entomological Assistant, and G. E. Clement, Assistant in Forest 
Management, Gipsy Moth and Broivn-tail Moth Investigations. 

Farmers and other woodlot owners in New England have, at the 
present time, an unusual opportunity not only to reahze appreciable 
sums from their timber but also to better the condition of their 
woodlands and lessen the liability of their being attacked by the 
gipsy moth. Because of the increased demand for cordwood it is 
now possible to dispose of classes of material not ordinarily mer- 
chantable, and while labor is scarce and high priced the increased 
cost of getting out cordwood, it is beheved, will be offset by the 
higher value of the wood. For these reasons timber owners, by 
puting into effect a few simple rules regarding the handling of their 
timber, will often be able to accomplish aU the following objects at 
one time: 

First. A large amount of low-grade wood can be disposed of to the 
advantage of the owner. 

Second. A better class of trees with improved growing conditions 
will be provided by the removal of inferior trees now standing. 

TTiird. The numbers of gipsy moths may be reduced by the removal 
of those trees of which they are particularly fond and upon which 
they thrive particularly well. 

In cutting cordwood heretofore, the practice generally has been 
to cut clean. Where most of the trees on an area are mature, dead, 
dying, or defective, a continuation of this practice is to be recom- 
mended, but where a large number of 3'oung trees are standing it is 
often preferable to thin judiciously. Such thinning should be based 
on several considerations, among which are: 

1. All dead, dying, and defective trees should be cut to make room for live trees, 
and in the case of dying trees, to check the development of injurious insects which 
may breed in them. 

100201°— 17 3 



4 SUGGESTIONS FOR OWNEES OF WOOD LOTS IN NEW ENGLAND. 

2. Species of trees having the highest commercial value should be given every 
opportunity to grow and develop well. All other trees interfering with their growth 
and development should be removed. 

3. Most trees to grow to the best advantage need a large amount of light. A thin- 
ning should aim to space the trees so that each individual shall have a proper amount 
of light. 

4. The foliage of certain species of trees is more desired by gipsy moths than that 
of other species. The removal of such trees may often afford relief from these pests. 

5. The price of lumber is rising, and the value of woods of good quality will rise 
correspondingly. Thinning may often be a great help in the production of such 
woods, besides increasing the rate of growth. 

6. Cutting clean is injurious to forest soil, and a long time must elapse before another 
cut can be grown. Since no one can predict how long war conditions will last, it 
seems advisable to cut gradually, removing the poorest trees first and saving the 
better ones for higher prices. 

There are 75 species of native and naturalized trees growing in 
this region. Realizing their varying liability to gipsy-moth attack, 
the Bureau of Entomology has conducted extensive laboratory 
experiments for a series of years to determine the susceptibility of 
each of these species. It has been found that the small caterpillars 
will not feed on certain kinds of foliage, although they may seriously 
injure the same trees after becoming nearly full grown. Other 
trees are eaten freely by caterpillars of all sizes, while some foliage 
is never attacked. 

All of the laboratory experiments were supplemented by extensive 
observations on the feeding of the caterpillars in the field, and from 
the data secured the forest trees have been grouped in the following 
classes : 

Class I. — Species that are favored food of gipsy-moth larvae in all their stages. 



Ash, Mountain. 

Aspen. 

Aspen, Large-tooth. 

Balm of Gilead. 

Basswood. 

Beech. 

Birch, Gray. 

Birch, Paper. 

Birch, River. 

Boxelder. 

Oak, Black. 

Oak, Bur. 

Oak, Chestnut. 



Oak, Pin. 
Oak, Post. 
Oak, Red. 
Oak, Scarlet. 
Oak, Scrub. 
Oak, Swamp white. 
Oak, White. 
Service Berry. 
Sumac, Dwarf. 
Sumac, Staghorn. 
Tamarack. 
Willow, Glaucous. 
Witch Hazel. 



Class II. — Species that are favored food for gipsy-moth larvx after the earlier larva stages. 



Chestnut. 
Hemlock. 
Pine, Pitch. 
Pine, Red. 



Pine, White. 
Spruce, Black. 
Spruce, Red. 
Spruce, White. 



SUGGESTIONS FOR OWNERS OF WOOD LOTS IN NEW ENGLAND. 



5 



Class III. — Species that are not particularly favored, but upon which a small propor- 
tion of the gipsy-moth larvx may develop. 

Hickory, Bitternut. 



Beech, Blue. 
Birch, Black. 
Birch, Yellow. 
Cherry, Black. 
Cherry, Choke. 
Cherry, Wild red. 
Cottonwood . 
Elm, American. 
Elm, Slippery. 
Gum, Black. 



Hickory, Mocker-nut. 
Hickory, Pignut. 
Hickory, Shagbark. 
Hop Hornbeam. 
Maple, Red. 
Maple, Silver. 
Maple, Sugar. 
Poplar, Silver. 
Sassafras. 



Class IV. — Species that are unfavored food for gipsy-moth larvx. 



Arborvitae. 
Ash. Black. 
Ash, Red. 
Ash, White. 
Balsam Fir. 
Butternut. 
Cedar, Red. 
Cedar, White. 
Dogwood, Flowering. 
Hackberry. 
Holly, American. 



Laurel, Mountain. 
Locust, Black. 
Locust, Honey. 
Maple, Mountain. 
Maple, Striped. 
Mulberry, Red. 
Sheepberry. 
Sycamore. 
Tulip. 
Walnut, Black. 



The gipsy moth is such a serious pest over a large portion of New 
England that the varying extent to which it feeds on trees of different 
species is a very important factor in determining what trees shall 
be removed and what ones preserved in thinning. Other factors 
affecting such determination are the commercial value, rapidity of 
growth, and adaptability to different soil conditions of different 
species of trees. With these several factors and 75 species of trees 
occiuring in a multitude of combinations, it can be seen how impos- 
sible it is to outline any plan of thinning which will be applicable in 
all cases. An attempt is made here, however, to indicate in a general 
way some of the qualities of each species which must be considered 



in thinning. 



TREATMENT OF TREES IN CLASS I. 



Beginning with Class I of the foregoing classification, it is found to 
be composed of 26 species which are favored as food by gipsy-moth 
larvae. Ten of these species, namely, mountain ash, gray hirch, river 
MrcJi, hoxelder, scrub oak, service berry, dwarf sumac, staghorn sumac, 
glaucous willow, and witch hazel are of little commercial value and 
should be removed. 

Ten of the species in this class are oaks, including the scrub oak 
just mentioned. Oaks growing on light soils and rocky ridges are 
usually not very vigorous, grow slowly, and suffer severely from 
gipsy-moth attack. 



6 SUGGESTIONS FOR OWISTEES OF WOOD LOTS IN NEW ENGLAND. 

The hur oaJv, chestnut oak, pin oak, post oak, and swamp white oak 
are generally more or less rare and of restricted local occurrence in 
this region, so that they have no great commercial importance. 
Owing to their great susceptibility to moth attack these trees should 
be cut in every case where they are interfering with the growth of 
better trees, or where there is an opportunity to replace them with 
trees not so hable to moth attack. 

The white oak reaches the northern limit of its range in the gipsy- 
moth infested region, yet it is one of the most abundant of the oaks. 
Its fohage seems to be particularly desired by the gipsy moth, and it 
grows very slowly. For these reasons it is not a desirable type for 
growth in this region. 

The red, hlack, and scarlet oaks grow well and produce a valuable 
class of material. Where young, vigorous trees of these species occur 
on good soil in mixture with other trees, they may be left, despite 
their liabiUty to gipsy-moth attack, providing that they are not 
interfering with the growth of more valuable trees. 

Aspen, large-tooth aspen, and halm of Gilead can not tolerate shade, 
and they grow well only where they have free access to plenty of 
light. Scattered specimens in mixed woods may well be cut, but 
pure stands, which occur occasionally, may be left to mature when 
they are in demand for pulp or excelsior. 

Basswood occurs very much scattered in this region and grows to 
advantage only on the best of sites. It may well be ehminated from 
all others. 

Beech is more abundant in the northern than in the southern 
portion of the region. It grows slowly and is likely to become defec- 
tive before maturity. It is perhaps the least liable to damage by the 
gipsy moth of any of the Class I trees. It is an excellent fuel and 
should be cut heavily when in the way of faster growing and more 
valuable trees. 

Paper hirch demands a large amount of light to grow well and is not 
abundant in mixed stands. When it occurs in abundance, it is in 
good demand for spool and novelty wood. It makes an excellent 
fuel, and scattered specimens could often be cut to the advantage of 
trees to be left. 

Tamarack is nowhere abundant in the infested region. When dry 
it makes excellent kindling and a hot fire for a short time. 

TREATMENT OF TREES IN CLASS II. 

Class II is composed of eight species of trees on which gipsy-moth 
caterpillars in their earliest stages do not feed, but upon which they 
do feed in their later stages. Hence, if stands composed of these 
species have in their vicinity no plants upon which the young cater- 



SUGGESTIONS FOE OWNERS OF WOOD LOTS IN NEW ENGLAND. 7 

pillars can feed, the stands may safely be considered immune from 
attack. Trees of tliis class may be grown safely in mixture with trees 
of Class IV. 

Stands composed largely of one or more of the species of this class 
can be made immune from gipsy moth attack by removing the trees 
which may provide the young larvge with food. There are many 
places where a considerable amount of cordwood could be cut most 
advantageously with this object in view. 

Great care should be taken to protect and preserve young ivhite 
pine and red pine, especially when they occur on poor soils. They 
often grow weU on such soils, and if they are present the associated 
hardwoods which do not grow well on such sites, and which may be 
subject to caterpillar attack, may be cut beneficially. Red pine is 
not affected by the white-pine blister rust, wliich is spreading very 
slowly among the white pines. If young white pines are given a fair 
chance to grow, they will probably reach maturity before being 
seriously affected by the rust. 

Chestnut grows well and yields a valuable product, but unfortu- 
nately is subject to attacks of the chestnut blight. It makes a poor 
grade of fuel, but with a shortage of the better grades an opportunity 
doubtless will be afforded for the disposal of a considerable amoimt 
of this species. 

TREATMENT OF TREES IN CLASS III. 

Class III is composed of 20 species which are not particularly 
favored by gipsy moths, but upon which a small proportion of the 
larvae may develop. Stands composed of any trees of this class 
alone or mixed with trees of Class IV, but containing no trees of 
Class I, would maintain only slight infestations and rarely, if ever, 
would be defoliated. 

Blue heech, choice cherry, wild red cherry, hop hornbeam, and sassafras 
have no particular commercial value ordinarily and could well be con- 
verted into cordwood at this time. 

Black cherry has considerable commercial value, but its occurrence 
is generally rare. American elm and slippery elm are also generally 
scattered. Unless growing in very good soil, these trees could well be 
cut. Cottonwood, hitternut hickory, black gum, silver maple, and silver 
poplar are rare. Bitternut hickory makes very good fuel, but silver 
maple is not so good. The cutting or preservation of these species 
will have little effect in any respect. 

The remaining trees of this class, namely, black and yellow birches, 
moclcernut, pignut, and shagbark hickories, and red and sugar maples 
can be grown in comparative safety as far as the gipsy moth is con- 
cerned. The yeUow birch, hickories, and sugar maple make the best 



8 



SUGGESTIONS FOR OWNERS OF WOOD LOT 



III 



000 921 413 6 

of fuol, but they also produce excellent grades of lumber. With luel 
of this class in great demand, there will be a temptation to cut young 
trees of this species. Dead, dying, and defective trees may well be 
removed now, but young and vigorous trees should be left to grow to 
larger and hence more valuable sizes. 

TREATMENT OF TREES IN CLASS IV. 

Class IV is composed of 21 species of trees on which the gipsy moth 
does not feed, or if it does, the amount is so slight as to be entirely 
negligible. Stands composed of trees of this group alone or combined 
with trees of Class II need cause no anxiety whatever as far as gipsy- 
moth attack is concerned. Flowering dogwood, mountain laurel, 
mountain maple, striped maple, and sJieepherry have little or no com- 
mercial value locally, and if large enough could well be cut for cord- 
wood at this time. 

Arhorvitse, hlack ash, and wliite cedar occur usually in or near 
swamps. They need no consideration as fuel. 

Butternut, red cedar, locust, honey locust, and sycamore all require a 
large amount of light, for which reason they occur rarely in mixed 
woods, and they are of little importance as fuel. 

Red ash, haclcherry, American holly, red mulberry, tulip, and hlaclc 
walnut are so rare as to require little consideration. 

In this region of degenerate woods, cuttings or thinnings among 
young trees should almost always be made with a view to improving 
the quality of the trees left, or the future growth. This means that 
woodland should be kept fully stocked, but not crowded, with 
vigorous trees of the most valuable species. If inferior trees are cut 
out, care should be taken to protect seedlings and saplings of better 
species which may be on the ground, for otherwise, in the case of 
deciduous trees, sprouts wiU grow vigorously, and the same old con- 
ditions will reappear. When young growth of desirable species is not 
present, and no provision can be made for introducing better trees, it 
may often be better to leave the existing stand than to cut it. 

It is realized that the foregoing suggestions can serve only in a very 
general way as a guide for thinning, but it is the desire of the Bureau 
of Entomology of the United States Department of Agriculture to aid 
the woodland owners of this region in every possible way, and the 
writers would be pleased as far as possible to confer with any owner 
in this region who is seriously interested and will apply to them in 
person or by letter at Bureau of Entomology office, 964 Main Street, 
Melrose Highlands, Mass. 



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